Yoon Yoon-su, Chairman of FILA, First in Fashion Industry to Receive the 'Van Fleet Award'

Contribution to Enhancing Korea-US Economic Development and Mutual Cooperation

Yoon Yoon-soo, Chairman of FILA Holdings, received the 'Van Fleet Award' presented by the Korea Society, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization. The Van Fleet Award is given to individuals who have contributed to the development of Korea-U.S. relations, and Chairman Yoon is the first person in the fashion industry to receive this honor.

FILA Holdings announced on the 2nd that Chairman Yoon Yoon-soo was awarded the Van Fleet Award at the '2024 Korea Society Annual Dinner' held on the 30th of last month (local time) at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York. Former professional golfer and Chairperson of the Park Se-ri Hope Foundation, Park Se-ri, was also named as a co-recipient.

Yoon Yoon-su, Chairman of FILA Holdings, is giving a speech at the Van Fleet Award ceremony held on the 30th of last month (local time) at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York, USA.
[Photo by FILA Holdings]

The Van Fleet Award was established in 1992 to honor General James Van Fleet, who served as the commander of the U.S. Eighth Army during the Korean War and founded the Korea Society in 1957. The Korea Society, headquartered in the United States, annually awards the Van Fleet Award to individuals who have made significant contributions to enhancing Korea-U.S. relations. Previous recipients include former U.S. President George W. Bush, former President Kim Dae-jung, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, and Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo.

Chairman Yoon was recognized for leading the growth and expansion of the global business portfolio while strengthening the Korea-U.S. economic alliance and promoting cooperation between the two countries. A KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the U.S. Army) veteran, Chairman Yoon was the first recipient of the 'Kim Sang-won Award,' an excellence award for reserve KATUSA soldiers presented by the U.S. Eighth Army Command in Korea in 2015. In 2022, he also supported the establishment of the Wall of Remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park in Washington D.C., participating in honoring war veterans.

Thomas Byrne, Chairman of the Korea Society, stated, "We highly appreciate Chairman Yoon Yoon-soo’s achievements and dedication in successfully leading the businesses of Acushnet and FILA, advancing the Korea-U.S. economy, and promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries. For these reasons, he was selected as this year’s Van Fleet Award recipient."

Chairman Yoon expressed his thoughts, saying, "The growth and prosperity of the global fashion industry are among the fruits of the strong bonds between Korea and the United States. I feel a deep responsibility for the numerous challenges currently facing the fashion industry, and I will continue to contribute to building a sustainable future for the international community through close cooperation between the two countries."